Stow bar for aircraft fuel nozzle, aircraft fuel nozzle having stow bar, and method of attaching stow bar to aircraft fuel nozzle

Abstract

A stow bar for an aircraft fuel nozzle includes a U-shaped body formed of a base part, a first arm extending from one side of the base part, and a second arm extending from an opposite side of the base part. Each of the first arm and the second arm includes a free end located distally of the base part. Each free end includes a male connector for insertion through an aperture in a housing or a flange of the aircraft fuel nozzle. The stow bar is formed of a single, solitary piece of material. The single, solitary formation of the male connectors with the stow bar provide increased strength and durability to the stow bar connection with the fuel nozzle, and is an improvement over known support bar designs having female threaded connectors which receive screws that are prone to break and leave debris within the female connectors.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A stow bar for an aircraft fuel nozzle, comprising:
 a U-shaped body formed of a base part, a first arm extending from one side of the base part, and a second arm extending from an opposite side of the base part, wherein   each of the first arm and the second arm comprises a free end located distally of the base part, and   the free end comprises a male connector for insertion through an aperture in a housing or a flange of the aircraft fuel nozzle.   
     
     
         2 . The stow bar according to  claim 1 , wherein the male connector comprises threads. 
     
     
         3 . The stow bar according to  claim 1 , wherein the stow bar is a single, solitary piece. 
     
     
         4 . The stow bar according to  claim 3 , wherein a material of the stow bar is steel. 
     
     
         5 . The stow bar according to  claim 2 , further comprising a threaded nut for engaging with the male connector. 
     
     
         6 . The stow bar according to  claim 1 , wherein the free end of each of the first arm and the second arm extends at an angle relative to the base part. 
     
     
         7 . The stow bar according to  claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the male connector is less than a diameter of the first arm and the second arm. 
     
     
         8 . An aircraft fuel nozzle, comprising:
 a nozzle part for dispensing fuel;   a housing comprising a first aperture and a second aperture; and   a stow bar comprising a U-shaped body formed of a base part, a first arm extending from one side of the base part, and a second arm extending from an opposite side of the base part, wherein each of the first arm and the second arm comprises a free end located distally of the base part and extending through one of the first aperture and the second aperture, and the free end comprises a male connector.   
     
     
         9 . The aircraft fuel nozzle according to  claim 8 , wherein the male connector comprises threads, and the stow bar further comprises a nut attached to the male connector for securing the stow bar to the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The aircraft fuel nozzle according to  claim 8 , wherein the stow bar is a single, solitary piece. 
     
     
         12 . The aircraft fuel nozzle according to  claim 8 , wherein the free end of each of the first arm and the second arm extends at an angle relative to the base part. 
     
     
         13 . The aircraft fuel nozzle according to  claim 8 , wherein the stow bar is configured to interact with a limit switch of a refueling vehicle when the aircraft fuel nozzle is stowed on the refueling vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . A refueling vehicle comprising:
 the aircraft fuel nozzle according to  claim 8 ; and   a limit switch for controlling a power supply to the refueling vehicle,   wherein the stow bar is configured to interact with the limit switch when the aircraft fuel nozzle is stowed on the refueling vehicle.   
     
     
         15 . A method of attaching a U-shaped stow bar to an aircraft fuel nozzle, comprising:
 inserting a free end of a first arm and a free end of a second arm of the U-shaped stow bar through a first aperture and a second aperture, respectively, of a housing of the aircraft fuel nozzle, wherein the free end comprises a male connector;   attaching a first nut to the male connector of the first arm; and   attaching a second nut to the male connector of the second arm.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the free end of each of the first arm and the second arm extends at an angle relative to a base part of the U-shaped stow bar so that the base part is disposed at an angle relative to the aircraft fuel nozzle when the free end of the first arm and the free end of the second arm are inserted through the first aperture and the second aperture, respectively, of the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the stow bar is a single, solitary piece. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the male connector comprises threads.